"That’s quite the request you’re asking for. There’s not much in this world that can change the thought process of a Demi God forcefully. Plus, with the state of the new age, there shouldn’t even be a Demi God this soon. She’s an anomaly. Might even become a precious customer for me." The merchant grinned as the Queen furrowed her brows.

  "Just tell me the price." She interrupted since she understood that he’s trying to let her understand how extensive this was going to be.

  "Straightforward. I like it. But I’m not sure if you have the capital for this service. Regardless, I’ll tell you the price." He grinned.

  "I want 60% of the authority that you hold along with a shard of your soul."

  Hearing this, the Queen stood up and glared at the merchant.

  Her aura flared in relation to her anger.

  "Since you know what a Queen’s authority does, you dare ask for 60% of mine?" She asked coldly.

  "Hahaha, surely you understand that your power is unique. If I want to help you switch up her thought process, I’ll need a shard of your soul and 60% of your authority to use your power. I am the only one who can accomplish what you ask of me. And I’ll be honest, I’m giving you a discount. If it was anyone else, I would have asked for 90% of their authority. She’s not one that you should provoke without care after all."

  Narrowing her eyes, the Queen contemplated for a moment before shaking her head.

  "Forget it. I can’t afford your price, you can look for someone else." She waved her hand in annoyance.

  She wasn’t going to use 60% of her authority in a trade no matter what happens. The moment she did that, everything she worked towards would be wasted.

  "Why so quick to dismiss me? We can bargain using a different price."

  "No. You see, I believe you’re underestimating me. I’ve already incurred a loss trying to reclaim a zone. Continuing to fight without a guarantee is foolish and I’ll be caught dead before I hand over 60% of my authority. Even if you want, you can’t do anything to me can you? God Tier merchant?" The Queen narrowed her eyes as she flashed in front of him.

  Staring him down, she did not take a single step back nor did she cower in his presence.

  Hearing this, the merchant’s lips curled up into a grin.

  "Very well. I’m not one to chase after buyers so it is your loss."

  After saying his piece, his body scattered into countless feathers as the Queen spat in disdain.

  Sitting back on her throne, she sighed heavily and tilted her head back.

  "Victory is slipping further and further away. I’m not fated to win this am I?…… . ." She muttered before closing her eyes.

  She remembers her teacher’s words, the cause justifies the means.

  No matter what she did, as long as she reaches the end, it will be worth it. However, even after so long, she can’t see herself winning at all.

  Her power was unique but it was flawed. She couldn’t use it on anyone equal to her strength.

  All that time she had spent cultivating this was wasted. She had no substantial combat power to speak of other than reserving the effects of a few attacks but even then, that was limited.

  Shaking her head, she rested for a moment.

  ###

  "Your highness."

  Nudging the Queen slightly, Monti could see that she was quite fatigued in the last few days. After barely being able to claim a zone, it was taken away in a single day.

  "Mn…… I must have fallen asleep. Monti, is that you?" The Queen yawned slightly as Monti kneeled down.

  "Your orders?" He asked as she shook her head.

  "There are none. It’s over. All of my tier 6 subjects are dead. Say Monti, you’re the strongest one left. Do you think you can take any of them on?" She laughed as Monti furrowed his brows before shaking his head.

  "Unfortunately, no. But I wish I could."

  "So do I Monti, so do I. My dream is drifting further and further away and the last chance of me being able to do anything comes at a great price as well. 60% of my authority. If I handed that over, all hope of realising my dream would be over…… Though, I suppose my current situation is more or less the same." She shook her head as Monti stayed silent.

  "Your contract has been broken. So there’s no need for you to stay. I don’t have a single tier 6 left so I’m effectively out of the new age. I have no substantial combat prowess to speak of and even the weakest Queen can eliminate me if I’m not careful. I’ll release the contracts I have on everyone else. Take them and leave. If you say that you’ve managed to rebel and break their contracts they’ll see you as their leader. Try to survive out there if you can." The Queen shook her head as Monti stood up.

  Looking down at the Queen, he paused for a moment before turning around and leaving.

  Seeing his back going further and further away, she unconsciously reached out but halted herself.

  Once he left, she flicked her finger and closed the door.

  Leaning on her chair, she glanced towards Vrish’ Lir that had its night sky lit up by the crests of the Queens.

  She didn’t know how long had passed but she eventually shook her head. Just as she stood up, the doors slammed open as she glanced back only to see Monti standing in the doorway.

  "I’ve already sent them away with someone else acting as their leader." Monti reported as the Queen looked at him with a puzzled expression.

  "I thought I had said for you to be their leader. Are you not the most capable person here?" She asked.

  "Perhaps, but my job is not to lead them but rather stay by your side. I might not be the sharpest sword but I am a sword willing to be used by you. You saved my life so it’s only natural I serve you with everything I have." Monti kneeled as a tier 5 magic circle appeared beneath him.

  Recognising it to be a magic circle for binding contracts, she furrowed her brows.

  "You realise what you are doing right?" She asked as he nodded.

  "I do. But I am willing. No matter what you want to do, no matter how hard it will get, I will stand by your side and guard you to my last breath."

  "Hais…… Idiot. Causing your own death like this."

  Shaking her head, she snapped her finger and the contract was cancelled.

  "There’s no need for contracts. If you want to stand by me just come along. I suppose I’ll just wander around for a bit while watching everything else happen. There’s no more chance of me winning anyways, I’m too far behind." She smiled as Monti nodded.

  ###

  Setting up the defences for both zones, Shiro sat in the command office and checked on everything that had happened in the zones during this day.

  Out of the 15 zones, she has now occupied two. The Beast Queen has occupied one main zone and two sub zones. The dragon empress still ruled over one of the main zones and no one had attacked her at all. Which made sense since it was practically delivering yourself as EXP to her doorstep.

  ’So far the four main zones are captured by Syradil, Thiria and two unknown Queens. I have two small zones which are the same amount of Thiria while everyone else has captured one zone with a single exception but they’re too far north for me to worry about just yet. The rest of the Queens are building up their power for an attack later in the week. The closest Queen to me right now is the one with the eye in the crest but there hasn’t been any movements……’ Shiro thought to herself as she glanced at the holographic map.

  "You seem stressed." Nan Tian said as he entered the command room on his wheelchair.

  On his lap was a tray with some food.

  Placing it on the table, he glanced towards her.

  "A little. Just thinking about keeping up with the points while also not making myself a giant target. Seems a little hard." Shiro shrugged.

  Creating a fork, she grabbed some of the meat and put it in her mouth.

  "So I think we should just take it easy tomorrow. Reinforce what we have while keeping an eye out." Shiro shrugged.

  "Sounds pretty good. Also, Silvia managed to get a slight breakthrough." Nan Tian smiled.

  "What kind of breakthrough?"

  "One that reduces the impact of backlashes. I don’t have as many berserk skills as you do so it wouldn’t have taken me a long time to recover to begin with but with Silvia’s help, I’m back in fighting form." Nan Tian chuckled as he stood up and leaned against the table.

  Flicking his fingers, light started to gather around his hands.

  "Che, I was hoping to see you in that wheelchair some more but this is good also." Shiro smiled and dismissed the wheelchair.

  Chatting to each other for a bit, they rested for the night.